Receptacle and opening means therefor



Oct. 9 s. R. WOODRUFF HECEPTACLEAND OPENING MEANS THEREFOR Filed April 19, 1968 INVENTOR 57/41/457 6 WWW/7 United States Patent US. Cl. 220-48 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The device of the invention is an openable closure for a receptacle which is a push type opener. It is exemplified as an opener for tin cans such as beer cans. It takes the form of a V-shaped push tab, the side edges of which separate from adjacent portions of the top allowing the tab to push inwardly hinging about the base of the V. Preferably, a thin frangible material is provided as a layer on the underside of the can lid which is sheared by the edges of the V-shaped tab as it moves inwardly to provide the opening.

" The invention relates to the field of receptacles or containers and particularly to manually openable closures therefor. That is, the improvement of the invention resides in means provided whereby the container can be manually opened without the use of an opener.

In a preferred form of the invention, it is exemplified as a push tab in the top of a container such as a beer can made of tin. In this form of the invention, a tab is formed of V-shape having side edges scored, perforated or otherwise formed so that they can readily separate from the adjacent material of the top. The tab can be pushed in by finger pressure to form a discharge opening the tab hinging about the base of the V. Preferably, a sheet of thin frangible material is provided underneath the can lid which is ruptured, that is, sheared by the edges of the V-tab to form an opening through, the can being sealed until this material is sheared. The apex of the tab preferably has a down turned point to assist in perforating and shearing the frangible material.

In a modified form of the invention, the frangible dia- "ice Further objects and additional advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a second form of the invention,

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a third form of the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing a feature which may be utilized with all three forms of the invention.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, these figures show an exemplary form of the invention as applied to a receptacle in the form of a tin can container, for example, a beer can. The invention provides a push-type or push-top opening means for the receptaphragm underneath the lid is omitted. The sides of the V-shaped tab are formed so that the material will fracture as a result of finger pressure so that the tab is pushed into the Cantor opening. In a further form ofthe invention the tab can be formed as a separate piece that is secured to the top of the can such as by riveting. When the tab is pushed in through a corresponding shaped opening in the top of the can it ruptures or shears the frangible diaphragm underneath the lid.

In the light of the foregoing, the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved, manually openable closure for containers embodying a push tab that separates from a wall portion forming a discharge opening. A further object is to provide opening means as in the foregoing object wherein a sheet of frangible material is provided on the underside of the container lid which is ruptured or sheared by the push tab.

Another object is to provide a push tab type of opener wherein the tab is of V-shape and which separates from the adjacent material Without embodying the inner sheet of frangible material.

Another object is to provide a push tab opener wherein the tab is separate from the material of the lid, is attached to the lid and moves inwardly through a similarly shaped opening in the lid and shears a frangible sheet of material underneath the lid.

cle or can as designated at 10. The can is made of a material such as tin having a top 12 and with a top peripheral flange 14. Formed in the top 12 of the can is a section of this wall, that is, the top, which can be separated from the remaining portions of the top wall and moved inwardly by finger pressure to provide an opening. The section which separates is V-shaped as designated at 16 and is adapted to hinge about the base part of the V opposite the apex. The V shaped section 16 is formed along its side edges so that it can easily be separated from the fixed portions of the top wall. That is, along the edges as designated at 20 and 22 the material is weakened so that it can readily separate and this may be accomplished by scoring the material in a line along these edges so that the material can rupture along the score lines; or the material may be perforated, punched or stamped along these two edges 20 and 22 to provide a weakened line along these edges so that section 16 can separate from the fixed part of the wall and then hinge about a line across the V opposite from the apex. Preferably along this line 23, a

row of round holes is punched as shown to facilitate hinging of the material along this line. Alternatively, the material can be weakened along this line by pressing spaced elongated perforations or embossments into. the material.

Provided on the underside or under surface of the top 12 is a layer preferably in the form of a disc of relatively thin frangible material such as tin foil as designated at 26. This material may be adhered to the under surface of the top of the can 12 over its entire surface or at only certain areas thereof. Preferably at the apex of the section of material 16 the end is turned or pointed inwardly as shown at 28 so that when the section 16 is forced inwardly by finger pressure, the point 218 will pierce the frangible material 26 and then as the section is pushed inwardly about its hinge, its straight V edge sides will shear through the thin frangible material 26 to provide an opening as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

From the foregoing it can be observed that an openable closure or lid is provided which is extremely simple but yet effective. Fabrication of the container providing this type of push-in tab is also extremely simple and economical. The contents of the container are effectively sealed in until such time as the container is opened in the manner described. Stackin of the cans is possible since the end flange 14 permits the push-in tab from being inadvertently pushed in.

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 show another form of the invention which is similar to the form of the invention just de scribed. In this form of the invention no frangible diaphragm is provided underneath the lid 12. The material of the top 12 is formed along the side edges of the V shaped tab so that by way of finger pressure this tab can be forced inwardly, the edges separating along the sides of the V and the tab pushing inwardly to provide the opening.

FIGURES 7 and 8 show another form of the invention which is similar to the forms of the invention already described except in the following respects. The pushin tab 16" as shown has a trapezoidal part as designated at 30 which is secured to the top 12 of the can by way of a rivet 32. That is the tab 16" is separate from the material of the top 12 but secured thereto.

In this form of the invention the frangible diaphragm 26 is provided as in the form of the invention shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3. The tab 16" is provided with a point 28 as in FIGURE 1. In this form of the invention the tab 16" is initially secured only to the top of the can by the rivet 32, the side edges of the material of the tab 16" not being secured to the fixed part of the top 12 of the can. That is, there is a V shaped opening in the top of the can 12 as designated at 34. When the tab 16 is pushed inwardly by finger pressure, it moves inwardly thru the opening 34. The point 28 on the end of the tab pierces the frangible diaphragm and the side edges of the tab 16" shear the diaphragm so that the tab forms an opening in it which is the discharge opening for the receptacle or container. The tab 16" hinges along a similar line of opening 23'. The frangible material 26 is positioned underneath the end of rivet 32. The tab 16" can rotate laterally about rivet 32 so that its point 28 can be moved to one side slightly so that it does not accidentally puncture the frangible material.

FIGURE 9 shows a modification which may be utilized in all forms of the invention. Placed over the tab 16, 16, or 16 is a disc of thin material 36 which may be flexible or rubberized material or comparable material attached to the top of the can by mastik or a similar adhesive. The words PRESS HERE preferably are imprinted on this piece of material. Obviously this piece of material could have other shapes such as being square. Thus, when a can such as shown in FIGURE 9 is opened, the tab moves downwardly as a result of the finger pressure while disengaging from the piece or patch of material 36.

The patch 36 is then simply pulled off leaving an area including the tab which has been untouched by human hands. This arrangement provides positive assurance that no area that has been contacted by a persons fingers would come in contact with the material being poured out of the can. However, in the forms of the invention shown in the previous figures, the tab can easily be pushed in by pressing on it at a position adjacent to the base of the tab with the finger not coming in contact with the contents of the container. The material is of course then poured out thru an area adjacent to the apex of the V shaped opening so that the material actually would not contact the outside of the base part of the V shaped tab.

The construction and utilization of the invention and the manner in which it accomplishes the objectives and advantages as set forth in the foregoing will be readily apparent from the foregoing description as well as many additional advantages apparent therefrom.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of preferred forms of the invention and is to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a receptacle, a wall forming a part thereof, said wall having a triangular shaped opening therein, a triangular tab received within said opening and formed integrally with said wall along the base edge of said triangular tab, said base edge being structurally weakened over the length thereof to form a hinge, and the apex of said triangular tab being downturned to form a point, said apex and at least the portions of the remaining two sides of said tab immediately adjacent said apex being unconnected to said wall, and a frangible liner disposed against the inner surface of said wall to extend across said opening and adapted to be sheared by the inward movement of the apex end of said tab, said tab being displaceable inwardly from the plane of said wall by exerting finger pressure thereon between said base edge and said apex.

2. A receptacle as in claim 1 having a piece of flexible removable material overlying said triangular tab and the portion of said wall surrounding said opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,082,760 6/ 1937 Berni 220-48 2,261,117 11/1941 Jack 220-27 2,569,905 10/ 1951 Schwark 220-48 2,642,203 6/1953 Seemuller 220-48 2,740,547 4/ 1956 Huntting 220-24 3,190,485 6/ 1965 DAndrea et a1. 220-48 3,204,805 9/1965 May 220-24 3,227,304 1/ 1966 Asbury 220-48 3,334,775 8/1967 Klein et a1 220-48 3,355,058 11/1967 Asbury 220-48 RAPRAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Primary Examiner 

